Automobile bumper



June 7, 192K;

' W. R. MCGOWEN AUTOMOBILE BUMPER Filed Oct. 8, 1926 INVENTOR fl Mm Patented June 7, 1927.

WiIJLIAlii R. irceownn, or mcxnts'n'ooxs', eeansyivaamassmam To Unrrnn P'QRATION or DELAWARE.

oi man anese, PENNSYLVANIA, A con- 'mromomm BUMPER.

Application filed October 8, 1926. serial No; 140,363.

My invention relates to automobile bumpers and the like, and particularly to means for receiving impacts when the vehicle to which the bumper is applied comes into confact with other objects; f

@ne objectof my invention isjto provide an in'ipro'ved form of device for attaching an impact-rcceiving structure to a supporting member.

Another object or my invention is to pro vide a connection between a yieldable impact bar and its supporting structure of such form that the parts will be held against relative movement in a direction longitudinally of the bar.

Another object or my invention is to provide an impact-receiving bar with an offset portion that engages a complementarily formed fitting member, whereby such bar and member may have relative pivotal movement but are held against relative movement in a direction longitudinally of the bar.

Some of the forms which my invention may take are shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of an impact-receiving structure, and a portion of the supporting mechanism therefor; Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus oi Fig; 1, with some of the parts removed; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, taken on the line of Fig. 2; Fig. 1 is alview similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in another position; Fig. 5 is a view showing a modified form of impact-receivingbar; Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a view showing still another ino'di' fication. v

The structure comprises a pair of yieldable impact-receiving bars 8, preferably of steel, and supporting arms or bracl'zets 9, the rear ends of which are suitably attached to a vehicle frame or other support in any well known manner. The outer ends of the bars 8 have eye portions formed therein, through which extend tie bolts 10, spacing rings 11 being provided between the bars 8.

The bars 8 are provided with curved offset portions 12. The sets of fitting members by means of which the bars are secured to the supports 9 each comprises a curved plate 13 that is disposed against the curved portion 12 and is held in snug engagement tl'ierewith by a bolt-14 that extends through the plate 13 between the bars 8, and a face plate" The face plate 15' may serve as a name plate or may be of decorative appearance; The bolt 14 also extends throi'igh the curved end portion 16 or the supporting arm 9, the portion 16 being slotted somewhat to permit horizontal tilting movementor the bolt, when the bars 8 are deflected, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that the inter-engaging curved surfaces prevent shifting of the fitting members 13, let and 15 longitudinally of the bars 8,- when the bars are deflected, as shown in 4:, for

instance, thus holding the bars centralized and maintaining the face plates in symmetrically-spaced relation to the ends of the impact bars. tage both from a practical point of View and from an aesthetic viewpoint, and is secured without the necessity of drilling bolt holes throngh the bars 8, which would render the structure more expensive, besides weakening the bars. Furthermore, a swiveling or rocking action takes place as between the bars and the fittings when the bars are de fie'cted, thus eliminating the stresses which would be produce'd if the bars were rigidly connected to the supporting arms 9.

- In Fig. 5, I have shown a modification, wherein a partially spherical offset portion 12 is formed in an iinpzict-receiving bar 8. Then this form' of bar is employed, the fittings which correspond to the members 13 and 16-Will be correspondingly formed and will present, in cross section, the appearance shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig; 7 I show bars 8 that have curved offset portions 12 which do not extend the entire width of the bars. It will be apparent that bars made in this form can be mounted substantially in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and that the'plates 13 may extend the full width of the bars 9.

I claim as my invention 1. Bumper structure, comprising an impact-receiving bar having an offset portion intermediate its ends, a member formed to fit said ofi'set portion, and means for securing said member to a supporting member.

2. Bumper structure, comprising an impact-receiving bar having a curved offset.

portion intermediate its ends, a curved mem- This is an important advanher fitting said offset portion, and means for attaching said curved member to a supportof the bumper, and means for clamping said plates together. i

4. Bumper structure, comprising a flexible impact-receiving bar having an offset portion at each side of its mid portion, a plate engaging each of said offset portions, and means for attaching said impact-receiving member and said plates to supporting members.

5. Bumper structure, comprising a flexible bar having an offset at each side of its mid portion a plate fitting over each of said offset portions, a supporting arm opposite to each of said offset portions, and clamping means for holding the said bar and plates in engagement with said arms.

6. Bumper structure, comprising a flexible bar having a curved offset portion, a curved plate fitting over said portion, and means for connecting said bar and said plate to a supporting member, the plate having rocking movement on the supporting member.

7 Bumper structure, comprising a flexible bar having a curved offset portion intermediate its ends, a supporting member, and means for securing said bar to said supporting member with the said curved portion in rolling engagement with the said member.

8. Bumper structure, comprising a flexable bar having a curved offset portion intermediate its ends, a supporting member, and means for securing said bar to said supporting member, with the said curved portion in rolling engagement with said member, and for preventing substantial relative movement as between the bar and said member, in a direction longitudinally of the bar.

9. Bumper structure, comprising a flexible bar having an offset portion, a supporting member therefor, and means for connecting the bar to the member, comprising a vertically disposed pivotal connection that engages said ofiset portion and is thereby held against substantial movement in a direction longitudinally of the bar.

10. Bumper structure, comprising a pair of parallel Vertically spaced bars provided With ofi'set portions in their rear faces, a pair of supporting arms, a face plate extending across the front faces of the bars opposite to each of said offset portions, plates engaging the rear faces of the bars and fitting over said offset portions, and a bolt extending through each pair of front and rear plates and between the bars, and having connection with one of said arms.

11. Bumper structure, comprising a pair of parallel vertically-spaced bars provided with offset portions in their rear faces, a pair of supporting arms, face plates exending vertically across the front faces of the bars opposite to said offset portions, plates engaging the rear faces of the bars and fitting over said offset portions, a bolt extending through each pair of front and rear plates and between the bars, and having connection with one of said arms, and means permitting the bolts to tilt in a horizontal plane.

12. Bumper structure, comprising a pair of parallel vertically-spaced bars provided with offset portions in their rear faces, a pair of supporting arms, face plates extending vertically across the front faces of the bars opposite to said offset ortions, plates engaging the rear faces of t e bars and fitting over said offset portions, and a bolt extending through each pair of front and rear plates and between the bars, and having connection with one of said arms, the bolts extending through horizontally elongated openings in the supporting arms.

18. Bumper structure, comprising a pair of parallel vertically-spaced bars provided with offset portions in their rear faces, .a pair of supporting arms, face plates extending vertically across the front faces of the bars opposite to said offset 30rtions, plates engaging the rear faces 0 the bars and fitting over said offset portions, and a bolt extending through each pair of front and rear plates and between the bars, and having connection wit-h one of said arms, the bolts extending through horizontally elongated openings in the supporting arms, and the outer end of each arm being bent forwardly to engage oneside of one of the rear plates.

In testimony whereof I, the said VILLIAM it. McGoWnN have hereunto set m hand.

WILLIAM R; M'oG WEN. 

